Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-01-13


nearest Kitty; Howard sank gracefully
upon the sofa at Sally's side.
Il hope your duties of last night
have not quite worn you out. " he said,
looking down at her tenderly.
"Oh, dear me, not at ALI responded
Sally. rather sharply.
That was all wrong; but what was
she to do?
1T was charming affair" Howard
continued, moving little nearer to
her
.sIhank you!" said Sally abstractedly.
She was watching the pair opposite,
with rising uneasiness.
Mr.. Beadle was leaning forward at a
dangerous angle. talking with horrible
volubility. with his eyes fixed on Kiey $
face.
Sally felt a wild desire to see his
chair roll backward and land him on
the floor.
Howard looked little hurt by her
brevity; but Sally was oblivious.
Don't you think her loyely" she
said
Kitty was venturing remark at the
moment with coquettish little laugh.
Sally could gladly have shaken her
VERY" said Howard, rather va
guely, and without looking around.
HE is Jealous said Sally to herself.
Poor fellowr'
..She is always pleasant, liks that. TO
everybody" she said, aloud. with SYM
pathy and reinsurance in her tone.
She doesn't mean anything by il.
'1ndeed?' said Howard.
But he did not seem quite to under
stand the force of the remark.
Mr.. Beadle was begging Kitty to
sing; and now was SalIy's chance.
"Do dear!' she urged; ''our new
waltz song. Do you know it'" she
went on. turning to Howard. "Mr.
Bennett will turn your leaves, Kitty"
Howard followed Kitty to the piano
obediently, and Mr., Beadle joined Sally
on the sofa.
How extremely well-suited they
are!" Sally observed. They seem
made for each other. Don't you think
SOP"
Really, ] had not noticed 1T. re-
Joined Mr.. Besdlc. stroking his mus
tache with sudden gravity.
"Stubbly-good gracious. yes!' said
Sally TO herself wrathfully.
Il should hardly think so, he added.
with some asperity.
MOI said Sally, frigidly.
And they relspsed into silence,
That was the first of long series of
similar occasions.
Howard and Mr.. Beadle called inccs-
sanity. and Sally's anxieties increased
accordingly.
Things are very discouraging for the
most part. Mr.. Beadle was plainly
enamored of Kitty's manifold charms,
and was determinedly devoted. Kitty
was gay, and careless, and bewitching.
and Howard was as languid as ever.
and rather more pensive.
Sally was convinced that this was
due to unhappiness. He was grieved
and angered by Kitty's Indifference; he
was prey to hopeless yearnings aud
passions.
The only drawback 10 the theory was
that Howard seemed sometimes redic.
ulously and inexpIanably attentive to
herself
BIT that was pride of comse-pique.
Sally lived in momentary expectation
of having tale of wounded love and
plighted hopes pourd into her sympa-
thetic ears.
The days and weeks rolled by; Kitty's
visit was drawing to close, and
everybody was looking forward eagerly
to Mrs. Smythe's masquerade.
Sallie herself forgot her schemes and
anxieties in the dutter of preparation.
Kitty was to go as gypsy. in a
bright silk bodice. gaily bespangled
petticoat, and highly-colored and a
highly-becoming turban-things which
no gypsy has ever been known to wear.
Sally was TO appear modestly as a
peasant of doubtful nationality, with a
tucked waist and abbreviated skirt, and
her hair in two braids down her back.
Sally's hopes had somehow risen
rather high. This was almost the end
of Kitty's visit, almost the last time she
and Howard would be together. and
omething must happen.
The fact of their approaching sepa-
ton would come home to them both;
would bring them nearer together;
would strike down all obstacles hither-
to existing, and bring matters to hap
Ply end.
Mr.. Beadle was, of course. the chief
obstacle. Mr.. Beadle had shown a
profound interest IN the OCCASION
positive enthusiasm, which Sally con-
sidered revolving.
"A man of his age!" she had said to
Kitty, indignantly. 1T is absurd! He
will probably come as Infancy"
Undoubtedly" Kitty had respond
ed, gaily And Mr.. Bennett as a
lamp-post or Interchangeable is so
amusingly tali''
Mrs. Smytbe's rooms were blaze of
light and a scene of whirling gaiety.
Sally gazed upon the scene bewilder-
ed, from the retirement of sofa. She
had lost sight of Kitty, and in the pres
ent state of confusion could not be sure
of knowing her again.
A stalwart Highlander, with a fero-
cious mask. paused before her, and ap-
peared to be examining her intently.
Then he came nearer, and stood re-
garding her critically, with his head on
one side, folding his arms and crossing
his scantily clothed limbs with a
| satisfied air.
He thinks I'm somebody else said
Sally to herself, amusedly, aud forgot
him in new excitement.
She had caught glimpse of a red
waist and twinkling skirt of a gay
turban aud fying mass of dark hair.
Kitty was in a low chair at the furth-
CT end of the room, her bare, round
arms, with their silver bands, cleaning
VIII te. and her smiling red lips. just
visible.
A MISUNDERSTANDING individual.
| in costume of Louis XVI. was perch
ell upon an ottoman at her side, gazing